Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 1
2. HISTORY ....................................................................................................................................... 3
3. MEMBERS OF SAARC................................................................................................................. 5
4. OBJECTIVES ................................................................................................................................. 9
5. PRINCIPLES ................................................................................................................................ 10
6. SAARC STRUCTURE ................................................................................................................. 11
6.1. Summit .................................................................................................................................. 11
6.2. Council Of Ministers............................................................................................................. 13
6.3. Standing Committee.............................................................................................................. 14
6.4. Programming Committees .................................................................................................... 14
6.5. Technical Committees........................................................................................................... 14
6.6. Action Committees ............................................................................................................... 14
6.7. Secretariat ............................................................................................................................. 15
6.8. Financial Arrangements In Saarc .......................................................................................... 15
7. COOPERATION WITH INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL ORGANISATIONS ............. 16
7.1. UNCTAD .............................................................................................................................. 16
7.2. ESCAP .................................................................................................................................. 16
7.3. UNICEF ................................................................................................................................ 16
7.4. APT ....................................................................................................................................... 17
7.5. UNDP .................................................................................................................................... 17
7.6. UNDCP ................................................................................................................................. 18
7.7. Colombo Plan........................................................................................................................ 18
8. CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................................. 19
9. REFRENCES ................................................................................................................................ 20
1. INTRODUCTION
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) comprises Bangladesh,
Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. SAARC is a manifestation of the
determination of the peoples of South Asia to work together towards finding solutions to their
common problems in a spirit of friendship, trust and understanding and to create an order
based on mutual respect, equity and shared benefits. The main goal of the Association is to
accelerate the process of economic and social development in member states, through joint
action in the agreed areas of cooperation.
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is
an economic and geopolitical organization of eight countriesthat are primarily located
in South Asia. The SAARC Secretariat is based in Kathmandu, Nepal.
The idea of regional political and economical cooperation in South Asia was first raised in
1980 and the first summit was held in Dhakaon 8 December 1985, when the organization was
established by the governments of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal,Pakistan,
and Sri Lanka. Since then the organization has expanded by accepting one new full
member, Afghanistan, and several observer members.
The SAARC policies aim to promote welfare economics, collective self-reliance among the
countries of South Asia, and to acceleratesocio-cultural development in the region. The
SAARC has developed external relations by establishing permanent diplomatic relations with
the EU, the UN (as an observer), and other multilateral entities. The official meetings of the
leaders of each nation are held annually whilst the foreign ministers meet twice annually. The
18th SAARC Summit is scheduled to be held in Kathmandu in November 2014.
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is an organization of South
Asian nations, founded in December 1985 and dedicated to economic, technological, social,
and cultural development emphasizing collective self-reliance.
The 11 stated areas of cooperation are agriculture; education, culture, and sports; health,
population, and child welfare; the environment and meteorology; rural development
(including the SAARC Youth Volunteers Program); tourism; transport; science and
technology; communications It is headquartered in Kathmandu, Nepal.
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The world today is at a turning point. The changes that we are undergoing are global in
scope, revolutionary, fundamental and structural in content. As we have entered the 21st
century a sense of optimism prevails for attaining peace and prosperity through effective role-
play of regional as well as global organizations.
Many view Asia as having a variety of characteristics in common with Europe of the
nineteenth century: underdeveloped international institutions, mixed domestic orders, rising
nationalism, high but differential growth rates, and bitter, emotional rivalries between
insecure neighbours.
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2. HISTORY
The idea of co-operation in South Asia was discussed in at least three conferences: the Asian
Relations Conference held in New Delhi on April 1947; the Baguio Conference in the
Philippines on May 1950; and the Colombo Powers Conference held in Sri Lanka on April
1954.
In the ending years of the 1970s, the seven inner South Asian nations that included
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka agreed upon the
creation of a trade bloc and to provide a platform for the people of South Asia to work
together in a spirit of friendship, trust and understanding. President Ziaur Rahman later
addressed official letters to the leaders of the countries of the South Asia, presenting his
vision for the future of the region and the compelling arguments for region. During his visit
to India in December 1977, President Ziaur Rahman discussed the issue of regional
cooperation with the Indian Prime Minister, Morarji Desai. In the inaugural speech to the
Colombo Plan Consultative Committee which met in Kathmandu also in 1977, King Birendra
of Nepal gave a call for close regional cooperation among South Asian countries in sharing
river waters. After the USSR's intervention in Afghanistan, the efforts to established the
union was accelerated in 1979 and the resulting rapid deterioration of South Asian security
situation. Responding to the President Zia Rehman and King Birendra's convention, the
officials of the foreign ministries of the seven countries met for the first time in Colombo in
April 1981. The Bangladesh's proposal was promptly endorsed by Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan
and the Maldives but India and Pakistan were skeptical initially. The Indian concern was the
proposal’s reference to the security matters in South Asia and feared that President Zia
Rehman's proposal for a regional organization might provide an opportunity for new smaller
neighbors to renationalized all bilateral issues and to join with each other to gang up against
India. Pakistan assumed that it might be an Indian strategy to organize the other South Asian
countries against Pakistan and ensure a regional market for Indian products, thereby
consolidating and further strengthening India’s economic dominance in the region.
However, after a series of quiet diplomatic consultations between South Asian foreign
ministers at the UN headquarters in New York from August to September 1980, it was agreed
that Bangladesh would prepare the draft of a working paper for discussion among the foreign
secretaries of South Asian countries. The foreign secretaries of the inner seven countries
again delegated a Committee of the Whole in Colombo on September 1981, which identified
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five broad areas for regional cooperation. New areas of co-operation were added in the
following years.
In 1983, the international conference held by Indian Minister of External Affairs PVN Rao in
New Delhi, the foreign ministers of the inner seven countries adopted the Declaration on
South Asian Association Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and formally launched the
Integrated Programme of Action (IPA) initially in five agreed areas of cooperation namely,
Agriculture; Rural Development; Telecommunications; Meteorology; and Health and
Population Activities.
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3. MEMBERS OF SAARC
Its seven founding members are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan
and Sri Lanka. Afghanistan joined later on 3rd April, 2007
1) Bangladesh
Bangladesh emerged as an independent country on 16 December 1971. Its official name is
the ‘People’s Republic of Bangladesh’. Dhaka is the capital of the Republic and Bangla is the
state language. The Independence and National Day of Bangladesh is 26 March
Bangladesh has primarily an agrarian economy. Agriculture is the single largest sector in the
economy producing about 30% of the country’s GDP and employing around 60% of the total
labour force. The country has a considerable number of large, medium and small-sized
industries in both the public and private sectors based on both indigenous and imported raw
materials. Among them are jute, cotton, textiles, fertilizer, engineering, shipbuilding, steel,
oil-refinery, paper, newsprint, sugar, chemicals, cement and leather.
2) Bhutan
The Bhutanese call their country Druk-yul, the land of the Drukpas (the people) and of the
Druk (Thunder Dragon as in the national flag of Bhutan). The ancient history of the kingdom
remains shrouded in mystery. Since the 8th century A.D., however, it is clear that Buddhism
has played a large part in shaping the course of Bhutan’s history. Although Bhutan was
unified under a central authority in the 17th century, evidence strongly suggests that it had
existed as an independent entity from very early times.
With over 80% of the people dependent on subsistence farming, the Bhutanese economy is
predominantly rural. The share of the agriculture sector in the gross domestic product has
dropped to less than 50% with the increase in the contribution of hydroelectric power
generation and sale which now accounts for over 30 percent. The country has the potential to
generate 30,000 MW of power from its rivers. Besides electricity, Bhutan exports calcium
carbide, wood products and cement.
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3) India
The roots of Indian civilization stretch back in time to pre-recorded history. The earliest
human activity in the Indian subcontinent can be traced back to the Early, Middle and Late
Stone Ages. India gained independence from the British on 15 August 1947. The freedom
struggle was led by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, also known as The Mahatma, who is
revered as the Father of the Nation.
India has one of the world’s most diverse populations, with most of the major races
represented. Today, India has over one billion people. There are fifteen languages recognized
by the Indian Constitution and these are spoken in 1600 dialects. Hindi, the fourth most
widely spoken language in the world, is the language of 30% of the population and the
official language of India.
India ranks among the top ten industrial nations of the world and has an increasingly
powerful middle class. The Indian economy is potentially very strong with its large industrial
output, technological knowledge and extensive reservoir of skilled manpower. Major exports
include cotton goods, iron, raw jute and jute products, coffee, electrical goods, leather,
handicrafts, diamonds, chemicals and software. The major imports are machinery, petroleum,
chemicals, cereals, copper, and zinc.
The majority of Indians (64%) earn their livelihood from the land with agriculture accounting
for about 35 % of national income.
4) Maldives
The civilizations of Maldives as far as can be estimated, dates back more than 2000 years.
Archeological findings from many ancient sites in Maldives show ruins of old Buddhist
structures, some dating back to 3rd and 4th centuries. The evidence shows that at the time of
conversion to Islam in 1153 A.D. the population of Maldives was mainly Buddhist.
The Maldives political system is a unique blend of its history, traditions, Islamic faith and
modern democratic principles. It has evolved over a period of many years, the first written
constitution having been proclaimed in 1932, though unwritten constitutional principles had
been in existence long before then. A republican form of government in 1968 replaced the
constitutional monarchy, with an Executive President as the Head of State. A new
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Constitution, that is more comprehensive and in tune with the country’s democratic principles
was adopted by the country on 1 January 1998.
5) Nepal
The documented history of Nepal begins with the Changu Narayan temple inscription of
King Manadeva I (464 A.D.) followed by Malla rulers among other important ones. Before
Nepal’s emergence as a unified nation in the latter half of the eighteenth century, the
designation of Nepal was applied only to the Kathmandu Valley. Nepal had been segmented
into more than 52 small principalities. Prithvi Narayan Shah, the Great King of Gorkha was
the maker of modern Nepal who united the country by 1769 by conquering Kathmandu
Valley and making it the Capital.
The mainstay of the Nepalese economy is agriculture, which accounts for 41% of the GDP
with more than 80% of the people dependent on it. The main crops grown are paddy, maize
and wheat. Manufacturing, trade and tourism follow farming as the main economic activities
of the country. Hand knitted woolen carpets and readymade garments are flourishing
industries in the country whose total share in the exports figures is almost 32 percent.
Petroleum products, chemicals and drugs, food and live animals, vehicles, machinery and
equipment are the major imports of Nepal.
6) Pakistan
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan appeared on the world map on 14 August 1947 under the
leadership of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Quaid-e-Azam (the Great Leader), who is revered as
the Father of the Nation. Pakistan is divided into four provinces: Sindh, Baluchistan, Punjab
and the North-West Frontier Province. Islamabad is the capital of the country.
Agriculture and related activities engage 46.1 percent of the workforce and provide 25
percent of GDP. The main exports include cotton textiles, cotton yarn and thread, clothing,
raw cotton, rice, carpets and rugs, leather, fish and petroleum products. The main imports
include machinery, electrical equipment, petroleum products, transportation equipment, metal
and metal products, fertilizer and foodstuffs.
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7) Sri Lanka
Lanka means "resplendent" (from the Pali "alankara"). Stone-age implements found on the
island date back at least ten millennia, while evidence is available that the domestication of
plants may have taken place around 15,000 B.C. Given Sri Lanka’s central location on the
trade routes of the ancient world and the attraction then of her "products", pearls, timber,
gems and ivory, and later spices, the island had become a center of East-West commerce well
before the Christian era. The direct influence of European maritime powers was felt
beginning from the 16th century with the arrival of the Portugues, Dutch and later British. Sri
Lanka gained independence from the British on 4 February 1948
The population of Sri Lanka (1998 estimate) is 18.77 million. The country is a multi-ethnic
nation. The Sinhalese, of Indo-Aryan origin, comprise 74 percent of the population; the Sri
Lankan Tamils, of Dravidian origin, who migrated to the island thereafter: 12.6 percent; the
Indian Tamils, descendants of migrant workers from South India recruited in the last century
by the British: 5.5 percent; the Moors, descendants from Arab traders who arrived in the
island from about the 12th century AD: 7.1 percent; and others, who include Burghers,
descendants of the Dutch and Portuguese: 0.8 percent. Sinhalese and Tamil are official
languages while English is the national language. Four major religions are freely practiced in
Sri Lanka. Buddhists account for 69.3 percent of the population, Hindus for 15.5 percent,
Christians for 7.6 percent and Muslims for 7.5 percent.
8) Afghanistan
Afghanistan officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in
Central Asia and South Asia. It has a population of around 31 million people, making it the
42nd most populous country in the world. It is bordered by Pakistan in the south and east;
Iran in the west; Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan in the north; and China in the far
northeast.
Human habitation in Afghanistan dates back to the Middle Paleolithic Era, and the country's
strategic location along the Silk Road connected it to the cultures of the Middle East, Central
Asia, and South Asia.Through the ages the land has been home to various peoples and
witnessed many military campaigns, notably by Alexander the Great, Arab Muslims, Genghis
Khan, and in the modern-era by Western powers.
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4. OBJECTIVES
Promoting the welfare of the people of South Asia and to improve their quality of life.
Accelerating economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region and to
provide all individuals the opportunity to live in dignity and to realize their full potential.
Promoting and strengthen collective self-reliance among the countries of South Asia.
Contributing to mutual trust, understanding and appreciation of one another's problems.
Promoting active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic, social, cultural,
technical and scientific fields.
Strengthening cooperation with other developing countries;
Strengthening cooperation among themselves in international forums on matters of common
interest
The objectives, principles and general provisions, as mentioned in the SAARC Charter, are as
follows :
To promote the welfare of the peoples of South Asia and to improve their quality of
life;
To accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the
region and to provide all individuals the opportunity to live in dignity and to realise
their full potentials;
To promote and strengthen collective self-reliance among the countries of South Asia;
To contribute to mutual trust, understanding and appreciation of one another's
problems;
To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic, social,
cultural, technical and scientific fields;
To strengthen cooperation with other developing countries;
To strengthen cooperation among themselves in international forums on matters of
common interests; and
To cooperate with international and regional organizations with similar aims and
purposes.
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5. PRINCIPLES
Cooperation within the framework of the Association is based on respect for the
pinciples of sovereign equality, territorial integrity, political independence, non-
interference in the internal affairs of other states and mutual benefit.
Such cooperation is to complement and not to substitute bilateral or multilateral
cooperation.
Such cooperation should be consistent with bilateral and multilateral obligations of
the member states.
Decisions at all levels in SAARC are taken on the basis of unanimity.
Bilateral and contentious issues are excluded from its deliberations.
Respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, political equality and independence of all
members states
Non-interference in the internal matters is one of its objectives
Cooperation for mutual benefit
All decisions to be taken unanimously and need a quorum of all eight members
All bilateral issues to be kept aside and only multilateral(involving many countries)
issues to be discussed without being prejudiced by bilateral issues.
To promote and strengthen collective self reliance
To improve the quality of life in the country for citizens
accelerate economic growth,cultural progress and social development
strengthen co-operation with other developing countries
co-ordinate with international and regional organizations
promote active collaboration and assistance
cultural,social,economic,scientific,defense and technological Fields
Cooperation within the framework of the Association is based on respect for the
pinciples of sovereign equality, territorial integrity, political independence, non-
interference in the internal affairs of other states and mutual benefit.
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6. SAARC STRUCTURE
6.1. Summit
FIRST SAARC SUMMIT
Dhaka, December 8, 1985.
Establishing the regional association, and established study groups on the problems of
terrorism and drug trafficking
The summit also agreed to establish a SAARC secretariat and adopted an official
SAARC emblem
SECONDSAARC SUMMIT
Bangalore, November 17, 1986.
The Heads of State or Government welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of
Understanding on the establishment of the SAARC Secretariat by the Council of
Ministers\
Appoint Ambassador Abul Ahsan of Bangladesh as the first Secretary-General of
SAARC.
THIRD SAARC SUMMIT
Kathmandu, November 4, 1987.
The foreign ministers of the member states signed the SAARC Regional Convention
on Suppression of Terrorism and an agreement to establish a South Asian Food
Reserve.[2]
FOURTH SAARC SUMMIT
Islamabad, December 31, 1988.
"SAARC Year Against Drug Abuse",
"SAARC Year of the Girl Child",
"SAARC-2000-A Basic Needs Perspective
South Asian Festivals"
FIFTH SAARC SUMMIT
Male , November 23, 1990.
"SAARC Year of Shelter"
"SAARC Year of the Environment",
"SAARC Year of Disabled Persons",
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SIXTH SAARC SUMMIT
Colombo 21, 1991.
Attended by the prime ministers of Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan, the
presidents of the Maldives and Sri Lanka, and the king of Bhutan
SEVENTH SAARC SUMMIT
Dhaka, April 11, 1993.
Attended by the presidents of the Maldives and Sri Lanka, the prime ministers of
Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan, and the king of Bhutan.
EIGHTH SAARC SUMMIT
New Delhi, May 4, 1995.
International community had successfully created a norm against chemical and
biological weapons; it had, unfortunately, been unable to do the same with regard to
nuclear weapons.
NINTH SAARC SUMMIT
Male, May 14, 1997.
Recognized the need for the international community to pursue nuclear disarmament
as a matter of highest priority.
TENTH SAARC SUMMIT
Colombo July 31, 1998.
Noted that the great power rivalry, which the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) had
consistently opposed, no longer posed a serious threat and the danger of a global
nuclear conflagration had abated.
ELEVENTH SAARC SUMMIT
Kathmandu, January 6, 2002.
Efforts to improve the global security environment.
TWELTH SAARC SUMMIT
ISLAMABAD, 4-6 JANUARY 2004
Signed the Additional Protocol to the SAARC Regional Convention on the
Suppression of Terrorism approved days earlier by the Council of Ministers
THIRTEENTH SAARC SUMMIT
Dhaka, on 12–13 November 2005
Included endorsement of the SDGs and establishment of the SAARC Poverty
Alleviation Fund.
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FOURTEENTH SAARC SUMMIT
New Delhi, on 3rd-4 April 2007
Attended the chief adviser of the government of Bangladesh.
FIFTEENTH SAARC SUMMIT
Colombo, 2-3 August 2008
The issues discussed were regional cooperation, partnership for growth for the
peoples of South Asia, connectivity, energy, the environment, water resources,
poverty alleviation,etc
SIXTEENTH SAARC SUMMIT
Thimpu, 28-29 April 2010
Plant 10 million trees over the next 5 years.
Signed a SAARC Convention on Cooperation on Environment to tackle the problem
of climate change.
SEVENTEENTH SAARC SUMMIT
Add City, 10-11 of November 2011
General stated that the Summit being held under the theme of “Building Bridges”
The Foreign Ministers of the respective Member States signed four agreements
Rapid Response to Natural Disasters, Multilateral Arrangement on Recognition of
Conformity Assessment,etc
EIGHTEENTH SAARC SUMMIT
Kathmandu, November 2014.
The motto was ‘Deeper Integration for Peace and Prosperity’
NINETEENTH SAARC SUMMIT
Islamabad, 15 -16 November 2016.
The objective of this summit was to address the security issues between India and
Pakistan. Hours after Indian PM Narendra Modi decided to boycott the SAARC
Summit in Islamabad in the wake of Uri terror attack Bangladesh, Afghanistan,
Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka have pulled out of the summit.
6.2. Council Of Ministers
Comprising the Foreign Ministers of member states is responsible for the formulation of
policies; reviewing progress; deciding on new areas of cooperation; establishing additional
mechanisms as deemed necessary; and deciding on other matters of general interest to the
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Association. The Council meets twice a year and may also meet in extraordinary session by
agreement of member states. It has held fifteen sessions till November 1995.
6.3. Standing Committee
Comprising the Foreign Secretaries of member states is entrusted with the overall monitoring
and coordination of programmes and the modalities of financing; determining inter-sect oral
priorities; mobilising regional and external resources; and identifying new areas of
cooperation based on appropriate studies. It may meet as often as deemed necessary but in
practice it meets twice a year and submits its reports to the Council of Ministers. It has held
twenty regular sessions and two special sessions till November 1995.
6.4. Programming Committees
Comprising the senior officials meets prior to the Standing Committee sessions to scrutinize
Secretariat Budget, finalise the Calendar of Activities and take up any other matter assigned
to it by the Standing Committee. This Committee has held fifteen sessions till November
1995.
6.5. Technical Committees
Comprising representatives of member states formulate programmes and prepare projects in
their respective fields. They are responsible for monitoring the implementation of such
activities and report to the Standing Committee. The chairmanship of each Technical
Committee normally rotates among member countries in alphabetical order, every two years.
At present, there are twelve Technical Committees. However, with the merger of the
Technical Committees on Environment and Meteorology, beginning from 1st January 1996,
the number of Technical Committees will be eleven.
6.6. Action Committees
According to the SAARC Charter, there is a provision for Action Committees comprising
member states concerned with implementation of projects involving more than two, but not
all member states. At present, there are no such Action Committees.
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6.7. Secretariat
Established in Kathmandu on 16 January 1987, the SAARC Secretariat is responsible to
coordinate and monitor the implementation of SAARC activities, service the meetings of the
Association and serve as the channel of communication between SAARC and other
international organizations.
1. Abu Ashen (Bangladesh) (16 Jan 1987 - 15 Oct 1989)
2. Kant Inshore Baraga (India) (17 Oct 1989 - 31 Dec 1991)
3. Ibrahim Husain Saki (Maldives) (1 Jan 1992 - 31 Dec 1993)
4. Yadab Kant Silwal (Nepal) (1 Jan 1994 - 31 Dec 1995)
5. Naeem U.Hasan (Pakistan) (1 Jan 1996 - 31 Dec 1998)
6. Nihal Rodrigo (Sri Lanka) (1 Jan 1999 - 10 Jan 2002)
7. Q.A.M.A. Rahim (Bangladesh) (11 Jan 2002 - 28 Feb 2005)
8. Chenkyab Dorji (Bhutan) (1 Mar 2005 - 29 Feb 2008)
9. Sheel Kant Sharma (India) (1 Mar 2008 - 28 Feb 2011)
10. Fathimath Dhiyana Saeed (Maldives) (1 Mar 2011 - 22 Jan 2012)
11. Ahmed Saleem (Maldives) (12 Mar 2012 - 28 Feb 2014)
12. Arjun Bahadur Thapa (CURRENT)
6.8. Financial Arrangements In Saarc
Member states make provision in their respective national budgets, for financing activities
and programmes under the SAARC framework including contributions to the Secretariat
budget and that of the regional institutions. The financial provision thus made is announced
annually, at the meeting of the Standing Committee.
The annual budget of the Secretariat, both for capital as well as recurrent expenditure, is
shared by member states on the basis of an agreed formula. The initial cost of the main
building of the Secretariat, together with all facilities and equipment, as well as that of the
annex building completed in 1993 has been met by the host government. A minimum of forty
percent of the institutional cost of regional institutions is borne by the respective host
government and the balance is shared by all member states, according to an agreed formula.
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7. COOPERATION WITH INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL
ORGANISATIONS
7.1. UNCTAD
SAARC-UNCTAD Memorandum of Understanding on the Trade Analysis and Information
System (TRAINS) was signed in February 1993. The global aim of TRAINS is to increase
transparency in international trading conditions and thus facilitate trade. This was the first
Agreement of cooperation to be signed by SAARC with an international organisation. Under
this Agreement, UNCTAD provides the SAARC Secretariat, on a regular basis, an updated
copy of TRAINS CD-ROM containing latest data on trade control measures prevailing in
developed and developing countries. The SAARC Secretariat in turn updates trade control
measures prevailing in the SAARC member states on a regular basis and forwards the same
to UNCTAD Secretariat, on computer floppies for incorporation in the updated versions of
TRAINS CD-ROM.
7.2. ESCAP
A Framework Agreement for cooperation between SAARC and ESCAP was signed in
February 1994. The Agreement provides for cooperation on development issues through joint
studies, workshops and seminars and exchange of information and documentation in poverty
alleviation, human resource development, trade promotion, foreign direct investment,
environmental protection and prevention of drug trafficking, infrastructure development etc.
SAARC Secretary-General has attended two Consultative Meetings of the Executive Heads
of Subregional Organizations in Asia and the Pacific and ESCAP (Bangkok 1994 and Jakarta
195). The Secretary-General also participated in the Meeting of Eminent Persons on Human
Resources Development organised by ESCAP Secretariat in Bangkok (November 1994).
7.3. UNICEF
A Cooperation Agreement between SAARC and UNICEF, was signed on 10 December 1993.
The Agreement envisages cooperation in implementing the relevant SAARC decisions
relating to Children through an annual agenda which include joint studies, exchange of
documentation and monitoring of implementation.
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In pursuance of the Cooperation Agreement, the SAARC Secretariat and the UNICEF
Regional Office for South Asia have been holding regular consultations, which have covered
progress in the implementation of Summit directives on Children and the recommendations
of the Council of Ministers, Standing Committee and the relevant Technical Committees. The
consultations focus on all child related issues including the Annual Review of the Situation of
Children in the SAARC Countries; implementation of the Colombo Resolution on Children;
Plan of Action to mark 1991-2000 A.D. as the SAARC Decade of the Girl Child; the serious
threat faced by Girl Children in Especially Difficult Circumstances (GCEDC); mid-decade
goals on Children emanating from the World Summit for Children (1990) and certain aspects
of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The regular interaction between
SAARC and UNICEF has facilitated better understanding of problems faced by Children in
South Asia and regional policies and strategies to meet these challenges.
7.4. APT
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by SAARC Secretary-General and
Executive Director of Asia Pacific Telecommunity (APT) on February 4 1994. The MOU
envisages cooperation between the two organisations to promote the growth of
telecommunications in order to accelerate economic and social development in the region.
SAARC and APT will exchange information, publications and documents on their respective
activities in this field. They will also exchange technical and operational details of plans for
improvement of national, regional and international telecommunications network.
Collaboration is also envisaged in planning and development of networks, transfer of
technology, promoting international standards, development of human resources and
application of telecommunications in sectors such as health, education, environment,
transport, and tourism.
7.5. UNDP
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between SAARC and UNDP was signed by the
SAARC Secretary-General and Administrator of UNDP in July 1995. The MOU embodies a
general agreement for broad-based collaboration with the aims and purposes of promoting
sustainable human development for attaining poverty elimination, preservation and protection
of environment, regeneration of natural resources, employment creation, and the goals of
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women in development; undertakes periodic consultation for joint activities; publishing
studies on priority concerns and exchanging relevant reports.
7.6. UNDCP
SAARC Secretary-General and United Nations International Drug Control Programme
(UNDCP) Executive Director signed an MOU on 18 August 1995 to coordinate their efforts
in combating drug trafficking and drug abuse in the region. The Memorandum envisages
mutual consultation and exchange of information between the two organisations. In addition,
the two organisations have agreed to seek each other's technical cooperation in pursuing their
respective drug control activities in areas of drug supply and demand reduction to assist in the
development and implementation of such activities as human resource development;
improving regional cooperation on drug intelligence through the SAARC Drug Offences
Monitoring Desk; legislation; financial investigation; money laundering; precursor control;
the establishment of a networking arrangement among existing institutions in drug abuse
prevention etc.
7.7. Colombo Plan
SAARC has also entered into cooperation arrangement with the Colombo Plan Bureau for
promotion on the Role of SAARC NGOs in anti-narcotic activities. In this context,
representative of NGOs from seven countries attended a meeting of the SAARC Forum on
the role of NGOs in Drug Demand Reducation in Dhaka on 10-13 April 1995.
Efforts are also underway to establish a working relationship between the SAARC Secretariat
and the Colombo Plan Bureau on training facilities in the region.
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8. CONCLUSION
Though the formation of SAARC is a landmark step taken by the leaders of the region, the
main rational behind its establishment is to develop a congenial environment through summit
diplomacy where all nations may interact peacefully with each other, cultivate sustainable
peace and promote mutual economic well being by harnessing available resources in the
region through the peaceful process of economic integration. Nevertheless, after 21 years of
establishment, neither South Asian nations have been able to push the process of integration
into full swing nor the organization itself has become viable enough to promote peace,
harmony and economic integration or prevent conflicts in the region.
The political tensions and conflicts surrounding the countries of a South Asia pose a question
of uncertainty and challenge to the formation of South Asian Union at par with European
Union that would allow free movement of people; common currency and common foreign
and economic policies which ultimately will sow the seeds of peace. In order to achieve the
objectives the SAARC would have to evolve into a full-fledged ‘regional entity’ that can
cultivate peace in the region. The realization of durable peace and the future of economic
integration through SAARC depend upon the ability and interest of South Asian leaders to
resolve domestic as well as long-standing differences through peaceful deliberations.
SAARC has created more problems than it has solved. This regional organization has failed
to address key issues in South Asia. Member nations have not been able to establish adequate
trust or satisfactory trade agreements as a result of conflicts. SAARC has accomplished little
since its establishment in 1985.
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9. REFRENCES
Charter : The South Asian Association For Regional Cooperation(SAARC)
www.icsw.org/
http://www.academia.edu/8224068/South_Asian_Association_for_Regional_Coopera
tion (Reffered: The International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW))
SAARC Secretariat, 2006, “Agreement on South Asian Free Trade Area
(SAFTA).” Available via the Internet
IMF, 2007, Direction of Trade Statistics, Year Book, Washington DC.
” The Daily Star, May 27, 2010, in: http://thedailystar.net/new Design/news-
details.php?nid=140263”
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